Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar

"The Stohar's cairn, a fortress tall, where golden teeth watch over all."

— Ellisalara Moonsetter, elven poet and loremaster.

The Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar is a small ground mammal that is known for both its golden teeth and the towers of rocks, or cairns that they build. These rocky features serves as territorial markers, lookout posts, defensive positions, and homes. For those unfamiliar to the Stohar, this creature is highly intelligent and cooperative and appears to be a blend of both badger and marten with a sprinkling of magic tossed in.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar boasts a robust and compact anatomy, perfectly suited for its rugged habitat. With a sturdy, muscular body and a streamlined shape, it effortlessly navigates through rocky terrain. Its four strong legs feature sharp claws, ideal for both digging and climbing, aiding in the construction of cairns and territorial defense. Their dense fur, ranging from deep brown to black with tips fading to blonde, provides insulation and protection against the elements. Sporting a slightly elongated snout akin to a badger's, along with small, rounded ears atop its head, the Stohar possesses keen eyesight with its small, dark eyes. Notably, its teeth are a striking feature, gleaming gold and specialized for crushing hard seeds and nuts and catching rodents, crucial for hunting, foraging, and defense. Complementing its physique is a bushy tail, aiding in balance on rocky slopes and serving as a means of communication within its family group.

Genetics and Reproduction

The Stohar form monogamous pairs and mate for life, displaying strong bonds within their family groups. Mating typically occurs during the autumn time of the year.
After mating, the female Stohar gestates over the winter months before giving birth. The young are born relatively undeveloped and are cared for by both parents and other members of the family group. They are nurtured and taught essential skills for survival, such as foraging, hunting, and cairn building.
Stohars reach sexual maturity at about two years and can begin reproducing shortly thereafter. Their reproductive cycle is closely tied to their environment, with factors such as food availability and weather patterns influencing mating and reproductive behaviors.

Growth Rate & Stages

Infancy: Stohar offspring are born small and helpless, relying on their parents and other members of the family group for care and protection. They grow rapidly during this stage, gaining strength and coordination. 
Juvenile: As they grow older, young Stohars become more independent and start to explore their surroundings. They learn essential skills such as foraging, hunting, and cairn building, under the guidance of their parents and older members of the group.
Adolescence: During adolescence, Stohars continue to develop physically and mentally. They become more adept at hunting and foraging, preparing them for adulthood.
Adulthood: Once they reach adulthood, Stohars are fully grown and capable of reproducing. They take on more responsibilities within the family group, such as helping to care for the young and defend the territory.
Maturity: Adult Stohars are at the peak of their physical and mental abilities. They contribute actively to the survival and well-being of the family group.
Old Age: In old age, Stohars may start to show signs of slowing down. They may become less active and spend more time resting. Despite this, they continue to play a valuable role in the family group foraging, hunting, and defending the territory until the end of their lives.

Ecology and Habitats

These furry little creatures are known for favoring cooler climates with wide open landscapes, where they can blend in with their surroundings and see predators from far away. These are usually rocky grasslands, meadows, and fields that have and abundant supply of rocks and food sources. It is believed that there is also an accumulation of gold dust and particles that are strewn throughout the Stohar’s habitat and that their inadvertent consumption of the gold is shown in their remarkable teeth.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Stohar has a diverse diet that includes both hunting and foraging. Their diet primarily consists of small rodents, insects, roots, nuts, and fruits. Their golden teeth are especially adapted for crushing hard seeds and nuts and capturing rodents. Stohars are opportunistic feeders, consuming whatever food is readily available in their environment. Their favorites include redroot yarrow, purple needlegrass, goldenrod, sunflower, clover, acorns, appes, Goodnight Crickets, and moles.
They are also known to store food in their burrows, especially during times of abundance, to ensure a steady food supply during leaner times. This behavior shows their intelligence and ability to plan for the future. Overall, the Stohar's diet is well suited to their environment and lifestyle, supplying them with the energy and nutrients that they need to survive and thrive.

Biological Cycle

Hibernation: During the winter months, Stohars hibernate to conserve energy and survive the harsh conditions. They huddle together in their family groups for warmth and emerge from hibernation in the spring. Gestation also occurs over the winter months and birth occurs shortly after emerging from hibernation.
Territorial Behavior: Throughout their lives, Stohars exhibit territorial behavior, protecting their territory and cairns from intruders and predators. They use vocalizations, body language, and scent marking to communicate and assert dominance. As invaders enter their territory, the Stohar will silently ascend their cairns, perch atop, bare their golden teeth and emit a raspy high pitched scream to surprise and ward off the invaders and call other family members to assist. The Stohars will charge and bite the invading animal if they are not scared off by the initial scream.
Life Span and Legacy: The average lifespan of a Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar is around 5-10 years in the wild. They leave behind a legacy of cairns and family groups that contribute to the ecosystem and shape the landscape of their habitat.

Behaviour

The Stohar have the following interesting and unusual behaviors: 
Cairn Building: They are skilled at building small mounds of stacked stones, known as cairns, which serve as territorial markers and shelters from predators. 
Territoriality: Stohars are fiercely territorial, protecting all the land they can see from the top of their cairns. They use these vantage points to keep watch for intruders and predators.
Hunting and Foraging: They hunt small rodents and insects for food, using their golden teeth to crush hard seeds and nuts. They also forage for roots, nuts, and fruits, storing them in their burrows for later consumption.
Family Structure: They mate for life and live in small family groups. The dominant male and female lead the group, while other members help maintain the burrow, tend to the young, and defend the territory.
Communication: Stohars use vocalizations, body language, and scent marking to communicate with each other, particularly during mating season and territorial disputes.
Hibernate: During the winter months, Stohars hibernate and huddle together in their family groups to conserve energy and stay warm.
Intelligence: They are considered highly intelligent among mammals, demonstrating complex behaviors such as building cairns and cooperative hunting.
Bonding with Humans: While not easily domesticated, Stohars raised from a young age and given proper care can form bonds with humans, though they retain their instinctual behaviors.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar has a complex social structure centered around family groups. They mate for life, with a dominant male and female leading the group. The dominant male is responsible for building and maintaining the cairn, protecting the territory, and hunting for food. The dominant female tends to the young, forages for roots, nuts, and fruit, and stores it in the burrow below the cairn. Other members of the family group, including younger Stohars, help maintain the burrow, tend to the young, forage for food, and defend the territory when needed. This social structure ensures the survival and well-being of the group, with each member contributing to the group's success.

Domestication

The Stohar is not easily domesticated because of its territorial and independent nature. However, in rare cases, they may form bonds with humans if raised from a young age and given lots of space and freedom to roam. These domesticated Stohars would still have their instinctual behaviors, such as building cairns and hunting for food, but they might also develop a strong bond with their human caretakers. Domesticated Stohars would require expert care and a deep understanding of their natural behaviors in order to ensure their wellbeing and happiness in a domestic setting.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The Stohar have been used for several purposes over the years. These include:
Magical Components: The teeth of the Stohar are highly prized for their magic enhancing properties, used in potions, spells, and enchanted items.
Guardians: Some gnome communities are said to use Stohars as guardians for their settlements, relying on their territorial nature and keen senses to alert them to danger.
Companions: Wizards and sorcerers have bonded with Stohars on occasion, using them as familiars for their intelligence and magical abilities.
Hunting: The meat and fur of the Stohar is sometimes still used for food and clothing by those living in the wilderness, particularly kobolds and goblins.

Facial characteristics

The Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar has an interesting facial appearance, with a slightly elongated snout similar to that of a badger. They have small, rounded ears that sit atop their head, allowing them to hear well in their rocky habitat. Their eyes are small and dark, with a watchful look. One of their most noticeable features is their golden teeth, which are prominently displayed when they open their mouths. These teeth are not only useful for crushing hard seeds and nuts and catching rodents, but also add to their regal and distinctive appearance.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar has a wide distribution across the land, favoring temperate climates with wide open spaces and unobstructed views. Typically they can be found in the Bluesky Grasslands, The Suncorn Belt, and scattered pockets of green meadows like the Clover Catchlands.

Average Intelligence

This species is considered to be highly intelligent among mammals and is capable of complex behaviors. They demonstrate planning and problem-solving skills as they build their cairns. They also display social behaviors, such as mate bonding and cooperative hunting, which suggests a level of emotional intelligence. Their ability to communicate and cooperate within their family groups further demonstrates their intelligence and adaptability to their environment.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The Stohar has well developed sensory capabilities that help it navigate its rugged habitat and detect threats. Their small, dark eyes provide them with keen eyesight, allowing them to spot movement and objects from a distance. This is particularly useful when scanning their territory from the top of their cairns. 
Stohars also have a keen sense of smell, which they use to detect food, predators, and other Stohars. Their sense of smell helps them navigate their environment and communicate with each other through scent marking.
In terms of hearing, Stohars have small, rounded ears that sit atop their heads. While their hearing may not be as acute as their other senses, it is still sufficient for detecting sounds such as approaching predators or the calls of other Stohars.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

According to several sources, including Bellrose Blackwood and Darcram Regnis, there exists a few organisms that have developed either a symbiotic or a parasitic relationship with the Stohar. A few examples are:
Stoneglow Moss: (Symbiotic) A bioluminescent moss that grows on the cairns of Stohars, providing them with camouflage and attracting insects for the Stohars to feed on.
Cairn Spiders: (Symbiotic) These small spiders build webs around Stohar cairns, capturing insects and pests that would otherwise irritate and distract the Stohars.
Cairnkeeper Wrens: (Symbiotic) Birds that nest in the cairns of Stohars, providing them with warning calls against predators in exchange for protection and shelter.
Soulleech Vines: (Parasitic) Rare subsurface vines that attach themselves to Stohars, draining their energy over time and weakening them, particularly during the winter hibernation or in the nursery of the young Stohar.
Cairn Lichens: (Parasitic) Lichens that grow on the fur of Stohars, sapping nutrients and weakening the Stohars over time, particularly the older and weaker animals that don’t have the energy or ability to remove the lichen.
Burrow Worms: (Parasitic) Worm-like creatures that can infest Stohar burrows, feeding on food stores and potentially harming young Stohars.
Bloodbiter Beetles: (Parasitic) Beetles that feed on the blood of Stohars, weakening them and potentially transmitting diseases.

Scientific Name

Meles Stohares Tumulus

Origin/Ancestry

Believed to have been an offshoot of an ancient lineage of Badgers.

Lifespan

Typically this species lives about 5 years in the wild with some exceptional ones living to 10 years.

Conservation Status

The conservation status of this species depends on the local ruling government where the Stohars are living. In some locations the Stohar is a protected and revered animal and in other more lawless places, the Stohar is not under any kind of protections.

Average Height

The average height of a Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar is about 12 inches at the shoulder.

Average Weight

They weigh around 15 to 20 pounds, with males being slightly larger than females.

Average Length

In terms of length, they are typically around 2 to 2.5 feet long, including their tail.

Average Physique

This animal has a compact and muscular physique, well suited for navigating the rugged terrain of their habitat. They have sturdy legs with strong claws for digging and climbing, allowing them to build their cairns and protect their territory. Their bodies are streamlined, resembling a mix between a small badger and a marten, with a bushy tail that helps them maintain balance while traversing rocky slopes.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The Stohar has a muscled body with a grizzly fur coat. Their fur consists of dark brown hairs that fade to blonde at the tips. They may have darker markings or patterns on their fur, such as stripes or blotches, which help them blend into their rocky habitat.

Predators:

The Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar faces threats from various predators in its habitat. Some of these potential predators include: various birds of prey, larger carnivorous mammals, large snakes, humans, other stohar, stone serpents, earthen wurms, rock coyotes, and kesynx gryphons.

Defenses:

The Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar has several defenses to protect itself from predators and other threats in its environment:
Territorial Behavior: Stohars are fiercely territorial and will defend their territory from intruders. They use vocalizations, body language, and scent marking to assert their dominance and warn off potential threats. Physical attacks are common but a last resort.
Cairn Construction: Stohars build small mounds of stacked stones, known as cairns, which serve as both territorial markers and shelters. These cairns provide them with a vantage point to keep watch for predators and intruders.
Camouflage: The Stohar's fur, which ranges from deep brown to black with blonde tips, provides camouflage among the rocks, helping them blend into their environment and avoid detection.
Burrow Defense: Stohars live in burrows dug into the ground, which provide them with protection from predators. They can quickly retreat into their burrows to escape danger.
Cooperative Behavior: Stohars live in small family groups led by a dominant male and female. Other members of the group help defend the territory and protect the young, increasing their chances of survival.
Intelligence: Stohars are considered highly intelligent among mammals, demonstrating complex behaviors such as building cairns and cooperative hunting. This intelligence allows them to adapt to changing threats and environments.

Burrows:

The burrows of the Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar are intricate and well-constructed, providing them with shelter and protection from predators and the elements. These burrows feature small entrances hidden among rocks or vegetation, leading into a network of tunnels wide enough for a Stohar to move through comfortably. Inside, there are various chambers for different purposes, including a sleeping chamber lined with soft materials, a storage chamber for food, and a nursery chamber for raising young. Ventilation shafts ensure air circulation, while escape routes, such as secondary entrances or tunnels, offer quick exits in case of danger. The exterior of the burrow is camouflaged with rocks and debris to blend in with the surroundings, helping to avoid detection. Overall, Stohar burrows are well-designed structures that provide these creatures with a safe and secure home in their rugged habitat.

Teeth:

Some people believe that acquiring the teeth from a Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar grants them various abilities or powers. Here are some perceived abilities that have been attributed to Stohar teeth:
Enhanced Strength: It is believed that wearing or possessing Stohar teeth can imbue the bearer with increased physical strength, allowing them to perform feats of great strength and endurance.
Fortune and Prosperity: Some believe that Stohar teeth bring luck and prosperity to those who possess them, leading to wealth and success in their endeavors.
Protection from Harm: It is thought that carrying Stohar teeth can protect the bearer from harm, warding off evil spirits and curses.
Enhanced Perception: There are rumors that Stohar teeth grant heightened senses or perception, allowing the bearer to see or hear things others cannot.
Magical Resistance: It is believed that Stohar teeth provide protection against magic, making the bearer resistant to spells and enchantments.
Longevity: Some believe that carrying Stohar teeth can grant the bearer a longer life, extending their lifespan beyond natural limits.

Magical Ingredients:

The teeth of the Gold-Toothed Cairn Stohar are believed to possess magical properties and are used in various magical items, spells, and potions throughout the world.
The Stohar Fang Amulet: An amulet crafted from a Stohar tooth, believed to grant the wearer protection from snakes.
Stohar's Blessing Oil: A golden oil made from Stohar teeth, used to anoint weapons and armor for increased effectiveness in battle.
Stohar's Vigor Tonic: A cloudy white tonic made from ground Stohar teeth, believed to enhance the drinker's stamina and vitality, granting them increased endurance and resilience.
The Stohar Insight Stone: A Stohar cairn rock infused with essence from Stohar teeth, used for scrying and divination of underground locations.
Stohar Scream Potion: A potion made from powdered Stohar teeth, believed to grant the drinker a fearsome scream that can intimidate enemies and bolster allies.

Rumors:

Golden Teeth: Some believe that the Stohar's golden teeth are actually made of pure gold, leading to stories of adventurers seeking out Stohar teeth as valuable treasures.
Magical Properties: There are whispers of the Stohar possessing magical abilities or being connected to mystical forces, with tales of their fur or teeth being used in powerful spells or potions.
Guardians of Ancient Treasures: Legends suggest that Stohars guard hidden caches of ancient treasures or artifacts.
Shapeshifting: Some storytellers claim that Stohars have the ability to shapeshift into rocks or other forms, allowing them to evade capture or trick unsuspecting travelers.
Harbingers of Doom: In darker tales, Stohars are seen as omens of impending doom or disaster, with sightings of these creatures foretelling of tragic events.
Protectors of Nature: Conversely, there are stories of Stohars being benevolent guardians of nature, with their cairns serving as symbols of harmony and balance in the natural world.